The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Fee (NUPRC) has revoked the working licence of the Oritsemeyin Rig following a drilling incident on the UDIBE-2 wellbore that raised severe security considerations.
The disclosure was conveyed in a press release posted on the fee’s official X (previously Twitter) account on Friday, September 12, 2025.
In response to the fee, the revocation adopted a overview of the circumstances surrounding the UDIBE-2 drilling operation, the place a “kick” — the undesirable stream of formation fluids into the wellbore — was recorded. This incident led to a number of non-productive hours, additional prices, and a compelled sidetrack of the effectively.
“The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Fee (NUPRC) has revoked the working licence of OritsemeyinRig and directed it to stop all operations upon the completion of its present effectively operations.
“The discover is contained in a letter dated September 11, 2025, addressed to Selective Marine Companies Restricted (SMSL) and signed by the Fee Chief Govt, Engineer Gbenga Komolafe.
“The NUPRC stated in a press release on Friday 12 September 2025 that the choice adopted an intensive overview of the circumstances surrounding the drilling of UDIBE-2 wellbore throughout which a kick was recorded, leading to a number of Non-Productive Time (NPT) with consequential price and a compelled effectively sidetrack,” the assertion learn partly.
Extra insights
NUPRC stated it had earlier issued a proper discover of culpability to Selective Marine Companies Restricted (SMSL), operator of the rig, on June 5, 2025, granting a 21-day window to resolve the problems. A reminder was later despatched on July 9, 2025, however the firm failed to realize compliance inside the stipulated time.
“Consequent upon the forgoing and pursuant to the related powers conferred on the fee underneath the extant Petroleum Business Act 2021, the annual licence to function granted to Selective Marine Companies Restricted for the Oritsemeyin Rig is hereby revoked,” the fee said.
- The upstream regulator additionally disqualified the Oritsemeyin Rig from all renewal protocols, stating that the sanction takes speedy impact consistent with the provisions of the legislation.
- By this motion, Selective Marine Companies Restricted (SMSL) is barred from searching for any future renewal of the rig’s licence, successfully ending its operational standing in Nigeria’s upstream sector.
The NUPRC defined that the choice was backed by the Petroleum Business Act (PIA) 2021, which empowers the fee to implement compliance with good oilfield practices, uphold worldwide security requirements, and guarantee operational security, industrial effectivity, and environmental sustainability throughout the business.
